Abstract Title: The picture of the Swedish church - Young peoples image of the organization in comparison with the organizations profile (Bilden av Svenska kyrkan – Unga människors image av organisationen i jämförelse med organisationens profil) Number of pages: 55 (57 including enclosures) Author: Ebba Göranzon Tutor: Göran Svensson Course: Media and Communication Studies C Period: Fall 2006 University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University Aim: The aim of this essay is to study the external communication of the Swedish Church, and how they want young people (16-18 years old) to perceive them. Further I would like to compare that information with how young people actually perceive the Swedish church. Do the both pictures agree? Method/Material: Together with literature studies, a qualitive method has been used and four focus group interviews with a total of 16 informants have been conducted. Two of the groups contained young people that are active within the organization and the two other groups didn’t. Main Results: The main results from the focus group interviews showed that young peoples image of the Swedish church is complex. In general, young people, who are active within the Swedish church, have a more positive image of the organization than the others. Despite their positive image, the other groups are more negative in their judgements, which show that the Swedish church still have more to work with until the image and profile comphere with each other. Keywords: The Swedish church, organizational identity, profile, image, young pepole

I dagens samhälle väljer många företag inom klädbranschen att presentera en hållbarhetsredovisning, angående företagets arbete för hållbar utveckling. Hållbarhetsredovisningen kan beskrivas som en viktig del av den strategi som används i syfte att profilera organisationen som socialt ansvarstagande. Däremot blir informationen som redovisas mer och mer omfattande för varje år, samtidigt som en färsk granskningsrapport visar att klädbranschens hållbarhetsarbete inte motsvarar den önskvärda utvecklingen. Den senaste tidens omfattande redovisningen kan därför diskuteras, om det är en form av fasadbygge, eller om redovisningen ändå kan uppfattas som legitim och trovärdig? Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka den interna kommunikationens betydelse för hållbarhetsredovisningens trovärdighet. Tre klädkedjor som verkar på den svenska marknaden har därmed undersökts och studien grundar sig på ett socialkonstruktivistiskt förhållningssätt, där subjektiva tolkningar är tillåtna. Studiens resultat visar att den interna kommunikationen har betydelse för hur hållbarhetsarbetet förmedlas till företagens intressenter och därmed kan medarbetarnas egen uppfattning av identiteten inverka på redovisningens trovärdighet. Genom denna undersökning finner vi även att hållbarhetsredovisningen framförallt är ledningens sak, varför hållbarhetsarbetet kan behöva förmedlas genom fler kommunikationskanaler för att inte bara framstå som en fin fasad. Ett främjande av den interna kommunikationen bör därmed utvecklas så att medarbetarna kan ge tyngd åt informationen som presenteras i redovisningen. På så vis kan den interna kommunikationen skapa betydelse för hållbarhetsredovisningens trovärdighet.

This doctoral thesis examines the construct of organizational identity of knowledge workers involved in a merger or acquisition, to gain insights into the complex social-behavioural responses of participants to perceptions of imposed integration of social groups. Following a qualitative case study methodology, this study used observation and interview data collection to capture the authentic experiences of participants from the host firm, and from the two acquired groups. The central curiosity guiding this study asked if continuity in subordinate identities, that transition relatively seamlessly from acquired to host organizations, offers the same adaptive or insulating effect against identity threat as superordinate identification. The central thesis proposed that despite the relative consistency between subgroup identities, the involuntary introduction of new members into a work team would continue to arouse perceptions of identity threat and provoke associated efforts to resist assimilation through withholding cohesion-building behaviours. The data were analysed using Atlas-ti to draw out key themes and patterns. The results suggested a relationship between the different integration strategies applied to the two acquisitions, and the participants’ perceptions of the integration. The data also suggested a relationship between levels of identity and reluctance to extend and engage in cohesion-building behaviours among host and adopted participants. Serendipitous findings pointed to potential triggers for the identity-related resistance, that most notably included status and dominance confusion that interfered with perceptions of identity continuity, and resistance to over-inclusion in superordinate and principle identities that lacked salience and distinctiveness. This paper introduced two new concepts to the field of identity research, including principle identity, and resistance to cohesion building behaviors. This paper also examined the perspectives of knowledge workers, as a distinctive cohort, to gain some insights into if and how a merger of like-professionals is experienced uniquely. Finally, the qualitative case study methodology offered an opportunity to examine the macro-economic contexts of the two acquisitions for relevance, and these contexts were found to be significant to a holistic understanding of the experiences of the integrations. / qualitative case study

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utforska hur revisorns egenskaper och uppfattningar om en god revisor påverkar den professionella och organisatoriska identiteten. Metod: Genom att använda oss av ett positivistiskt synsätt i kombination med en deduktiv ansats och en kvantitativ metod har vi erhållit vårt empiriska material. Teoretiskt perspektiv: Studien utgår från litteratur gällande revisorns traditionella och nya roll. Vidare har teori om professionell och organisatorisk identitet använts samt andra teorier inom vårt ämnesområde. Empirisk metod: SPSS har använts för att analysera vår empiri som erhållits genom en kvantitativ metod, enkäter. Empirin har analyserats genom multipel regressionsanalys samt faktoranalys. Resultat: Vårt resultat visar på att organisatorisk och professionell identitet lever i symbios och kan numera betraktas som en totalidentitet för revisorn. / Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how the characteristics of an auditor and an auditor’s perception of a well performing auditor effects the professional and organizational identity. Methodology: By using a positivistic view with a deductive approach and a quantitative method we have obtained our empirical material. Theoretical perspective: The study emanates from literature regarding the auditor’s traditional and new role. Furthermore theory about professional and organizational identity have been used among other theories within our research area. Empirical methodology: SPSS has been used to analyze our empirical foundation obtained through a quantitative method, surveys. The empirical foundation has been analyzed through multiple regression analysis and factor analysis. Conclusions: The result of our study shows a symbiosis between professional and organizational identity. They should now be considered as a one-unit identity.

Nordmaling is a small muncipality that has gotten a lot of critic in media over the last two years. In order to regain a good reputation and to communicate a strong message towards external groups, Nordmaling have decided to develop a branding platform that can represent the organization in both external and internal communications. In order to develop a brand the organization must understand its identity.The purpose of the study was to examine the employees’ thoughts of their organization in order to be able to define the organizational identity and give recommendations of core values that the organization can apply to their brand. To understand how the employees perceive their organization and what they think the organization stands for, the main focus was to study their view on values, standards, goals and vision of the organization through focus interviews and a survey. The study is grounded in the theoretical framework of organizational theory with focus on organizational identity, culture and image. The social identity theory was also used in order to understand the process of how people create an identity of themselves and the environmentThe study showed that the management of the organization doesn’t have any pronounced values and standards, according to the employees. The result also showed that a majority believe there is not enough support for how they should work to reach the goals and visions of the organization. These and other result of the study, show that there is a lack of common understanding of what the organization is and what it stands for. Therefor couldn’t the organizational identity be defined and described. The study showed that a majority of the employees have a negative perspective on the organization which goes hand in hand with the organization’s image. Despite the fact that the organizational identity couldn’t be defined the result showed that the employees are aware of the weaknesses of the organization, how they can improve the organization and that they want to improve the organization in order to gain a better reputation. The conclusion were therefor that there are some core values that can describe the organization despite the fact that the organization doesn’t have a common understanding for what they are and what they stand for.

Begreppet organisationsidentitet har vuxit i popularitet, både som teori för forskare och som strategi för företagsledning. Samtidigt ser vi en trend på den svenska arbetsmarknaden där det blir allt vanligare att hyra in arbetskraft istället för att anställa direkt i organisationen. Men vad händer med organisationsidentiteten när de anställda är tillfälligt där och dessutom har en dubbel organisationstillhörighet, både till konsultföretag och till kundföretag? Den här studien riktar in sig på konsulternas upplevelser av organisationsidentitet. Syftet är att bidra med kunskap till det teoretiska begreppet organisationsidentitet som tidigare inte har inkluderat tillfälliga medlemmar i en organisation, som till exempel konsulter i bemanningsbranschen. Detta kan förhoppningsvis ge uppslag och väcka intresse för vidare forskning på ämnet. Fem intervjuer med konsulter genomfördes för att undersöka deras upplevelser av rollen samt relationen till både konsult- och kundföretag. Resultatet analyserades i relation till social identity approach och forskning om organisationsidentitet. Slutsatsen blev att alla fem respondenter upplevde en svag identifikation med sina arbetsgivarorganisationer till följd av tillfällighet och en känsla av utbytbarhet. Respondenternas egna reflektioner av vad de tyckte var viktigt för att kunna identifiera sig kretsade nästan uteslutande kring ett behov av att bli sedd av arbetsgivarna, till exempel genom att få uppskattning, stimulans, möjlighet till att utvecklas och samhörighet med kollegor. Dock menade respondenterna att detta inte är något de förväntar sig ska uppfyllas i rollen som konsulter. Istället uppgav alla att de strävade efter en fast tillsvidareanställning där organisationsidentitet skulle spela större roll. / The aim of this stdy is to gain a greater understanding of the situation of temporary workers when it comes to organizational identity, since the research is limited in this field. Five interviews were made with young temporary workers. The interviews were then transcribed and analyzed with the theoretical framework of social identity approach and research on organizational identity. The interviews showed that all respondents felt disidentification or ambivalent identification towards both consulting agencies and the hiring companies, because of the interchangeability and temporal circumstances. They all expressed a need to be seen as individuals, but in different ways they also said that they did not expect that need to be met as long as they were temporary workers. All respondents expressed an aspiration for a permanent post where they thought their needs would be better fulfilled.

The purpose of this study is to develop the construct of organizational hardiness which is thought to distinguish organizations that thrive under conditions of turbulence and uncertainty from organizations that whither under these same conditions. This new construct is based on individual hardiness which is a constellation of personality dispositions that a large body of empirical work has suggested supports individual performance under conditions of turbulence and uncertainty. Paralleling the individual hardiness dispositions of challenge, commitment, and control, organizational hardiness is posited to consist of the organizational level constructs of sensemaking, organizational identification, and enactment. The development of organizational hardiness is supported by literature reviews of individual hardiness, organizational stress, sensemaking, organizational identification, and enactment. To support the theoretical development of this construct, this study includes a content analysis of the CEO letters to shareholders for the 20 largest commercial banks in the United States during the years 2000-2009. Using generalized least squares estimation techniques, the current study demonstrates a positive relationship between organizational hardiness, sensemaking, organizational identification, and enactment and multiple measures of organizational performance. Furthermore, organizations demonstrating higher levels of organizational hardiness demonstrate higher levels of organizational performance on three out of four measures. The study concludes with a discussion of theoretical and managerial implications concerning the development of this new construct.

This thesis investigates the role of organisational self-understanding in strategyprocesses. The concept of organisational self-understanding denotes members’understanding of their organisation’s identity. The study illustrates that strategyprocesses in companies are processes of self-understanding. During strategy making,strategic actors engage in the interpretation of their organisation’s identity.This self-understanding provides guidance for strategic action while it at thesame time implies understanding strategic action from the past.Organisational self-understanding is concerned with the maintenance of institutionalintegrity. In order to achieve this, those aspects of self-understandingthat have become particularly institutionalised need to develop in a continuousmanner. Previous literature on strategy and organisational identity has put toomuch emphasis on the stability/change dichotomy. The present study shows thatit is possible to maintain continuity even in times of change. Such continuity canbe established by avoiding strategic action that is perceived as disruptive withregard to self-understanding and by providing interpretations of the past thatmake developments over time appear as free from ruptures. Self-undertsandingis hence an inherently historical phenomenon.Empirically, this study is based on in-depth case studies of strategy processesin two large Swedish companies, namely the truck manufacturer Scania and thebank Handelsbanken. In each of the companies, three strategic themes in whichorganisational self-understanding has become particularly salient are studied. / <p><b>Sponsorship</b>:</p><p>Marknadstekniskt Centrum (MTC)</p>

Este trabalho consiste em um estudo de caso que procurou analisar instrumentos de comunicação dirigida acionados na rede de cooperação empresarial Associação Sul Móveis e Eletrodomésticos - Redlar. O método foi indutivo e a principal técnica de pesquisa utilizada foi a análise de conteúdo, aplicada nos documentos gravados do CD-R: Estatuto Social, Código de Ética, Regimento Interno, Manual de Expansão e Manutenção, e Manual de Identidade Visual, entregue ao novo associado no momento do ingresso na rede. Após a leitura flutuante destes, foram identificados os índices Padrões na Comunicação, Práticas de Gestão, Normativas Comportamentais e Diretrizes Compartilhadas, os quais constituem-se das categorias logomarca, slogan, atividades presenciais, procedimentos operacionais, deveres e obrigações, direitos, penalidades e punições, relacionamentos, objetivos, missão, visão e princípios. O resultado do estudo demonstra que os significados compartilhados constroem a cultura e a identidade da organização e são disseminados pelo instrumento de comunicação dirigida auxiliar CD-R , objeto de análise deste trabalho. / This work presents a case study that analyzed targeted communication aid tools on the business cooperation network Associação Sul Móveis e Eletrodomésticos Redlar. The inductive method was utilized and the main research technique used was content analysis, applied to the documents stored on the CD-R: Social Statute, Code of Ethics, Internal Regiment, Maintenance and Expansion Manual and Visual Identity Manual, given the new associated at the time of entry into the network. After the initial reading of these were identified indices Standard in Communication, Management Practices, Regulatory Behavior and Shared Guidelines, which are in the categories logo, slogan, present activities, operating procedures, duties and obligations, rights, penalties and punishments, relationships, goals, mission, vision and principles. The result of this work shows that the shared meanings defined the culture and the identity of the organization and are disseminated by means of the targeted communication aid CD-R analyzed in this work.

Cette thèse cherche à mieux comprendre la manière dont les organisations font face à des logiques et attentes institutionnelles potentiellement contradictoires. Pour ce faire, la thèse étudie le cas des Grandes Ecoles de Commerce Françaises (GECF), qui font face depuis le milieu des années 1990 à une mondialisation croissante de l’enseignement supérieur en gestion. En raison de cette mondialisation, les GECF doivent gérer deux types de contraintes : d’une part, répondre aux exigences des organismes d’accréditations et des classements internationaux – qui véhiculent les standards du modèle de la business school (recherche, internationalisation, académisation) – et, d’autre part, préserver leur identité originelle et fondatrice, construite sur un modèle national, et qui constitue encore leur source de légitimité locale. Les problématiques générées par la présence de ces deux logiques institutionnelles dans le champ des GECF, nécessite de la part de ces dernières des arbitrages complexes, et une redéfinition de leur identité. En particulier, la thèse cherche à identifier les mécanismes entrepreneuriaux et identitaires à l’oeuvre dans les réponses des GECF aux pressions institutionnelles différentes et parfois contradictoires. Ecrite sous forme d’articles, la thèse s’intéresse aux origines des GECF et à l’émergence d’une logique institutionnelle propre, à la transformation de leurs pratiques et de leurs identités en réponse aux nouveaux standards internationaux et à l’incidence de ce processus sur les logiques institutionnelles présentes dans leur environnement. / This dissertation explores how organizations cope with multiple and heterogeneous institutions, a situation recently referred to as ‘institutional complexity’. It is based on the study of French Business Schools, known as French Grandes Ecoles de Commerce (FGEC). Up until the mid 1990s, FGEC operated in a familiar and monolithic national institutional environment. Recent years have seen a rise in global standards for management education; a movement that has been particularly salient in Europe with the proliferation of MBAs, the development of accreditation and public ranking systems and the endorsement of the Bologna agreement in 1999, which aimed at developing a harmonized European higher education system. From that point onwards, FGEC have come under pressure to adapt to the growing internationalization of management education and adopt its dominant standards. While trying to redefine themselves as International Business Schools, FGEC continue to value their historical identity, which still forms the basis of their national legitimacy. This dissertation brings together a wide range of qualitative methods (participative observation, semi-structured interviews and documentary evidence), which are particularly suitable for understanding the social dynamics of institutional processes. The architecture of the dissertation goes from the micro to the macro level of analysis and combines three articles that should be considered together. The first article focuses on the case of one FGEC and explores how it attempted to promote an alternative definition of what an MBA program represents, by simultaneously combining the FGEC and the International Business School institutional logics. The second offers a comparative study of how four FGEC have interpreted and experienced the rising institutional complexity in their field, based on their identities. The third article offers a study of the FGEC population. It explores how and why FGEC emerged, established themselves as a particular form of management education, and developed by infusing practices from a competing logic, while remaining true to their traditional core.